Beer cooling device



June 4,- 1940. F. E. RICE BEER COOLING DEVICE Filed 001:. l, 1938Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,203,365

BEER COOLING DEVICE Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich. Application October 1,1938, Serial No. 232,732 1 Claim. (01. 225-40 The present inventionrelates to a beer cooling Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional Viewdevice, and more particularly to a unitary dethrough a unitary structureof the present invenvice for direct draw of beer from a keg or bartion,showing details of construction and arrel, whereby the beer may becooled in thederangement. vice and discharged from the faucet at apalata- Figure 2. is a horizontal sectional view taken ble temperature.substantially in the plane indicated by the line An object of thepresent invention is to pro- IIII of Figure 1.

vide a unitary structure whereby beer may be The drawing will now beexplained.

directly drawn from a barrel or keg through a The chosen exemplificationof the present indischarge faucet, and cooled to-a palatable temventionincludes, generally, a draught tube strucperature. ture A, a coolingchamber B, and a faucet C.

Another object of the present invention is to The draught tube scructureA, as illustrated,

provide a unitary beer draught device compriscomprises a draught tube Isurrounded by a casing a water jacketed draught tube and a cooling ingor second tube 2 spaced fromthe walls of chamber through which the beerpasses to the the draught tube l to provide a fluid space 3 befaucet,and in which the draught tube and cooltween them. The casing 2 is ofsufficient length, ing chamber are cooled by a cooling liquid, such sothat when the device is installed in the ,baras iced water, delivered tothe water jacketed re 0 e the owe end f t e C s W ll be draught tube andsubsequently to the cooling adjacent the bottom of the barrel. Asilluschamber, in sequential order from a single source trated, the lowerend of the casing 2 is interiorly go of supply. threaded to receive thethreaded portion 4 of A further object of the present invention is to aclosure pl D having an p o a e lower provide a novelcooling chamberarrangement for end 5 and side apertures 6 through which beer aunitarydraught structure, whereby beer may be may enter the interior of thecasing and the cooled in its passage from the interior of a bardraughttube l. The plug D is provided with a rel to a faucet. hollow interiorprojecting upwardly from the A still further object of the invention isto lower end of the casing 2, with which is conprovide a unitary draughttube structure for dinected a screen I. rect draw of beer from a barrelto a faucet which The lower end of the draught tube I terminatesincludes cooling means surrounding the draught a short distance abovethe screen I and is ar- 3() tube, andadditional cooling means, such as aranged with its lower extremity Su o y chamber, through which coolingfluid, such as a ring 8 which occupies the space between the iced water,is sequentially cir'culated'from a sinexterior of the draught tube andthe interior gle inlet. of the casing 2 for the purpose of sealing theThe invention has for a further object the prolower end of the liquidspace 3. The upper end vision of a unitary draught tube. structure inofthe casing Z is exteriorly threaded to engage eluding a' faucet'with anintermediate chamber a threaded opening in the lower head 9 of thebetween the faucet and tube providing a cooling cooling chamber. Theupper extremity of the cone; wherein the faucet and chamber areindraught tube is surrounded by a ring 10 clossulated to prevent rapidheat interchange being the space between the exterior of the upper 40tween the atmosphere and the interior or the xtr m ty f t e d au tubeand the s n 2 faucet and chamber. and forming the upper end of the fluidspace 3. Another and yet further object of the inven- Immediatelyadjacent the head 9, the casing 2 tion is to provide a unitary draughttube cooling is apertured at H to receive a nipple I2 in threadchamberand faucet structure for direct draw of ed engagement with andconstituting an inlet beer from a barrel, so constructed and arranged tothe fluid space 3. A hose i3 or other duct that the severalparts maybereadily disassemmeans is secured in flow communication with the bled forcleaning purposes,and're-assembled for nipple l2 by means of a threadedsleeve l4 en- I gaging the threaded exterior of the nipple and Theabove, other and further objects of the engaging against a flange 16formed on the represent invention will be apparent from the -folducedend I! of the connection to the hose or lowing description and"accompanying drawing, duct l3, as may be readily observed in Figure 1.The accompanyingdrawin'g illustrates an em- Extending downwardly in thefluid space 3 -bodimentof thepresent invention, and the Views and inflow communication with the nipple I2 is the e f are as follows:; 5' .adeliveryplpe l8, the lower end of which terminates a short distanceabove the sealing ring 8 at the bottom of the fluid space 3, so as todeliver to said fluid space cooling liquid, such as iced water, at thelower end of the draught tube I.

The casing 2 is provided with another threaded aperture IQ for receivinga like nipple 20, to which is connected, by a sleeve nut 21, a hoseconnection 22, the latter being suitably secured to a hose or other duct23. The nipple 2B is in flow communication with the fluid space 3 nearthe upper end thereof, so that before the cooling liquid entering thespace 3 from the pipe l8 may escape from such space, it must riseupwardly about the draught tube 5, thus effectually cooling whateverbeer there may be in the draught tube.

The cooling compartment or chamber structure B comprises a cylindricalshell 24, open at both ends, the lower end engaging an annular flange ofa ring member interposed between the lower end of the shell 25 and thehead 9. A gasket 26 is arranged between the ring 25 and the head 9 forthe purpose of making a leak-tight joint. The ring 25 is held in tightengagement with the head 9 by means of a skirted or flanged nut 2?interiorly threaded to engage external threads on the periphery of thehead and inturned to engage a portion of the annular flange of the ring,as may be readily observed in Figure 1.

An upper head 28 is flanged at 29 to engage the upper end of the shell 21 in leak-tight engagement. The head is formed with an upstandingcentral hub portion 3%.? which is bored to receive a nipple fit, throughwhich. nipple the beer from within the cooling chamber B passes to thefaucet C. The exterior of the hub portion 30 is threaded to receive thethreaded bored portion 32 of the faucet casting, the nipple at having aflanged upper end 33 which rests in a recess 34 in the faucet casting,the faucet casting being suitably bored to receive the nipple. Thefaucet casting is formed with a threaded bored portion 35 in alignmentwith a nipple 3!, which bore is normally closed by a plug 85.

The faucet C is of known shape and construction having the usual nozzle3? and a ball actuator 38 connected to a shaft 39 which operates thevalve within the faucet to open and close flow communication to thenozzle 31?. The interior construction or the nozzle being of known formand characteristics, it is not illustrated, as the same forms no part ofthe present invention.

Suitably secured within the interior of the shell 2 and near the lowerend thereof is a perforated header as provided with a plurality of holesextending axially of the same, with the holes in spaced relation one toanother. Suitably secured within the shell 2H and near the upper endthereof is a second header provided with a plurality of holes arrangedto register with the hole in the header 4%.

Secured in the holes or openings in the headers 25' and ii are aplurality of open-ended pipes 42 affording flow through the chamber Bfrom below the lower header it! to above the upper header H. One pipe d3is closed at its ends by suitable caps 44 thus shutting it off from thepath of beer travel through the cooling compartment 13. Near the upperend cf the pipe 13, it is apertured at to constitute an overflowopening. Adjacent the lower end of the pipe a nipple 46 is enteredthrough the shell- 2-l and into the interior of the pipe, affordingoutlet for the fluid within the pipe 43. The nipple 46 is connected bymeans of a skirted or flanged nut 41 to an outlet hose or duct 48.Surrounding the nipple between the pipe 43 and the shell 24 is a washeror gasket 49 for preventing leakage through the shell.

The space within the cooling chamber or compartment B between theheaders 40 and 4| and surrounding the several pipes constitutes a waterjacket for the cooling fluid. The cooling fluid is admitted to thiswater jacket through the hose 23 by means of a nipple 50 threaded intoan opening in the shell 24 and into the space between the shell and theseveral pipes, the connection being made by means of a skirted orflanged nut 5|.

The construction is such that the water jacket surrounding the pipes 42is sealed against escape of the cooling fluid to the beer passingthrough the pipes, and consequently beer cannot escape from these pipesor from the interior of the cooling chamber B to the water jacket.Cooling fluid, such as iced water, is admitted to the lower end of thespace 3 surrounding the draught tube I from the inlet I3, the fluidpassing upwardly about the draught tube l, escaping through the hose 23to the Water jacket about the pipes i2, and then when the head of waterin the jacket rises to the height of the outlet 45 in the pipe 43,wardly and out of the cooling compartment B through the outlet 48.

Due to the pressure created in the beer barrel or keg, beer is forcedupwardly through the draught tube, faucet, stopping at the valve whenthe valve is closed against its seat. During the time ofservit entersthis pipe, passing downthrough the pipes 42, and into the ice, coolingfluid, such as iced water, is circulated sequentially about the draughttube I and the pipes 42, thus effectually cooling any beer which may betrapped in the draught tube and the pipes and elsewhere within thecooling compartment B, by the fact that the valve in the faucet isclosed. Thus, whenever the faucet is opened to discharge beer into aglass, stein or other receptacle, it is discharged at a palatabletemperature, regardless of the interval of time occurring betweensuccessive openings of the faucet.

The beer in the barrel is maintained cooled to a desired temperature inany well-known manner, as, for example, by the maintenance of a bath ofcold fluid about the barrel. The structure or device of the presentinvention maintains whatever beer there cooling compartment vpalatablycool, so that should intervals of considerable time elapse betweensuccessive draughts made from the faucet, the beer will be palatable.

For insulating the cooling compartment B, this compartment is surroundedby a covering 52 of rubber, rubber composition, or other suitablematerial efiective to prevent rapid heat interchange between theatmosphere and the interior of the cooling compartment B. Preferably,this covering is applied over the margins of the upper head 28, asillustrated.

The faucet C is covered by a similar covering 53 for a like purpose. Thecoating 53 extends about the bored portion 32 of the casting, asillustrated, so that substantially all of the cooling compartment B andthe faucet C is covered by this insulating material, thus eifectuallymaintaining the beer within the cooling compartment and faucet at apalatable temperature for comparatively long periods of time.

is in the draught tube and It will be observed, from an inspection ofFigure 1, that the several parts may be readily disasembled for cleaningpurposes, so that the entire structure may thus be maintained insanitary condition at all times.

It will further be observed that the lower header 40 is spaced from thelower head 9 of the cooling chamber B a slight distance, and that theupper header 4| is spaced a slight distance from the upper head 28.These spaces enable filling of the cooling compartment B by beer forcedinto this compartment by the pressure present in the barrel, so thatthere is at all times, within the cooling compartment B, a greateramount of beer, subject to the cooling action of this compartment, thanis present in the draught tube I.

By delivering the cooling fluid adjacent the bottom of the space 3, thatis adjacent the lower end of the draught tube l, eflicient cooling ofthe beer within the draught tube is assured. Circulation of the coolingliquid from the space 3 to and through the water jacket of the coolingcompartment B continues as long as the fluid is being supplied throughthe inlet l3, which, of course, is during the time that the barrelcontains beer for dispensation through the faucet C.

At night time, or at any other time when the bar is closed, thecirculating fluid will be stopped. In the morning, or at thecommencement of another service period, the circulating cooling mediumwill be caused to circulate about the beer which is within the draughttube and within the cooling compartment B, for a sufficient length oftime before drawing the first glassful from the faucet, to properly coolthe beer within the structure.

In connection with the use of-the device of the present invention, ithas been ascertained that beer is discharged from the nozzle of thefaucet without the formation of excessive foam, without sputtering, andunder moderate pressure.

The terms upper and lower have been used herein for convenience and arenot to be understood as limitations. These terms have been used becauseof the fact that the drawing is so arranged as to make the termsappropriate, and because in a structure of this kind it is advantageousto align the draught tube and the cooling chamber.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as todetails, yet it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement andproportions of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

In a beer cooling and dispensing apparatus having an insulated fluidjacketed draught tube and an insulated faucet, the improvement of acooler which comprises an insulated shell closed at its ends by heads,alower head being adapted for removable connection to said draught tubeand arranged to afford beer flow from the tube into the shell, the upperhead being provided with a hollow nipple for threaded connection to saidfaucet in a manner to 'afiord beer flow from the shell to said faucet,axially spaced apertured headers within said shell, pipes extendingaxially of said shellwith their extremities entered in the headerapertures, the apertures in said headers being so arranged as tolaterally space said pipes one from another, the construction being suchas to provide a water jacket about said pipes, a pipe having closed endssupported in said headers and having an overflow inlet near its upperend and an outlet near its lower end, a water inlet tube arranged toprovide a water duct between said draught tube adjacent said lower shellhead and said water jacket for water flow, a water outlet tubecommunicating with the outlet of said closed ended pipe, flanged meansat the lower end of said cooler shell, and a ring nut in hookedengagement with said flange and in threaded engagement with the lowerhead.

FRANK E. RICE.

